STRAPPING DEVICE HAVING POSITION DETERMINATION OF THE PACKAGE AND METHOD FOR ARRANGING AN EDGE PROTECTION ELEMENT

Abstract

The invention describes, and illustrates, a strapping apparatus for strapping packages using a strapping means, having a packaging table, on which the package is guided through the apparatus, having vertical supports, which are arranged laterally in relation to the packaging table and on which a press plate can be displaced vertically, having an arrangement device for arranging an edge-protection means, it being possible for the arrangement device to be displaced horizontally on the press plate along a movement path, and having a controller, which moves the arrangement device into an arrangement position for arranging the edge-protection means on the package, wherein a means for sensing the position of the package is arranged in an entry region of the strapping apparatus, and the position-sensing means senses an entry position of the package during the entry movement thereof.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A strapping machine comprising: a frame at least partially defining an entryway; a packing table at least partially within the frame; a press plate movable toward and away from the packaging table; an arrangement device configured to hold an edge protector and movable relative to the packing table between a starting position and an arrangement position; a sensor configured to sense entry of a load into the entryway; and a controller configured to control the arrangement device to move from the starting position to the arrangement position responsive to the sensor sensing entry of the load into the entryway.

9. The strapping machine of claim 8, wherein the sensor is supported by the frame.

10. The strapping machine of claim 9, wherein the frame comprises multiple vertical supports and the sensor is arranged on one of the vertical supports.

11. The strapping machine of claim 8, wherein the press plate is movable in a first direction toward and away from the packaging table and the arrangement device is movable in a second direction from the starting position to the arrangement position, wherein the second direction is transverse to the first direction.

12. The strapping machine of claim 11, wherein the sensor is configured to sense entry of the load moving in a third direction into the entryway, wherein the third direction is transverse to the first and second directions.

13. The strapping machine of claim 8, wherein the arrangement device is mounted to the press plate and movable relative to the press plate between the starting position and the arrangement position.

14. The strapping machine of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to, responsive to the sensor sensing entry of the load into the entryway, control the arrangement device to move from the starting position to the arrangement position so the arrangement device arrives at the arrangement position no later than arrival of the load to a strapping position on the packing table at which the load is to-be-strapped.

15. The strapping machine of claim 8, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a distance between the sensor and the load.

16. The strapping machine of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to determine the arrangement position based on the sensed distance between the sensor and the load.

17. The strapping machine of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to determine a strapping position on the packing table at which the load is to-be-strapped based on the sensed distance between the sensor and the load, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the arrangement position based on the strapping position.

18. The strapping machine of claim 8, wherein the arrangement device comprises a distance counter configured to determine a displacement distance of the arrangement device from the starting position.

19. A method of operating a strapping machine to position an edge protector on a corner of a load, the method comprising: sensing, by a sensor, entry of the load into an entryway of the strapping machine; responsive to the sensor sensing entry of the load into the entryway, moving an arrangement device relative to the load from a starting position to an arrangement position as the arrangement device carries an edge protector; and after the load reaches a strapping position on a packing table, positioning the edge protector on the corner of the load.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising moving the arrangement device relative to the load from the starting position to the arrangement position so the arrangement device arrives at the arrangement position no later than arrival of the load to the strapping position.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein sensing entry of the load into the entryway comprises sensing a distance between the sensor and the load.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining, by a controller, the arrangement position based on the sensed distance between the sensor and the load.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: determining, by the controller, the strapping position based on the sensed distance between the sensor and the load; and determining, by the controller, the arrangement position based on the strapping position.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling, by the controller, the arrangement device to move relative to the load from the starting position to the arrangement position responsive to the sensor sensing entry of the load into the entryway.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining, by a distance counter of the arrangement device, a displacement distance of the arrangement device from the starting position.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising moving a press plate into contact with a top surface of the load to hold the edge protector in position on the corner of the load.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising, after moving the press plate into contact with the top surface of the load, tensioning a loop of strap around the load to retain the edge protector on the corner of the load.

Description

[0022] The invention will now be explained with reference to the exemplary embodiment described hereinbelow. In the drawings:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows the schematic illustration of a package entering into a strapping apparatus, the package being in a first position,

[0024] FIG. 2 shows the illustration according to FIG. 1 with the package in a second position,

[0025] FIG. 3 shows the illustration according to FIG. 1 with the package in the strapping position, and

[0026] FIG. 4 shows the illustration of a strapping apparatus.

[0027] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate merely the essential constituent parts of the invention; the illustration has dispensed with non-essential details of the strapping apparatus. A strapping apparatus in its entirety, in contrast, is illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0028] The strapping apparatus according to the invention is provided overall with the reference sign 10, wherein, of the strapping apparatus 10, FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate merely a lateral-boundary component 11, in order to symbolize the lateral packaging-table periphery, and the arrangement device 12.

[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates the strapping apparatus 10 in its entirety. The strapping apparatus comprise, in the first instance, a packaging table 16, which is provided with a multiplicity of rollers 17. Vertical supports 18, which carry a press plate 19, are arranged laterally, on the right and left, in relation to the packaging table. Said press plate 19 can be displaced up and down along the vertical supports 18. All of this goes to form a portal-like machine frame through which the package 13, which is mounted on a pallet 20, is moved. A strapping-means channel encompasses the package 13, being formed from portions which are located in the press plate 19, along the vertical supports 18 and in the packaging table 16. Starting from a band store 21, a strapping band is moved, by means of an insertion and closure device, through the channel portions and around the package 13. When the end of the band arrives at the insertion and closure device, it is retained there and begins a retraction movement. During this, the band leaves the strapping channel via various opening mechanisms and is tensioned around the package.

[0030] Arrangement devices 12 for edge-protection means 14 are arranged on the press plate, but are not illustrated in FIG. 4. Proceeding from a starting positionthese arrangement devices shift the edge-protection means 14 onto the edges of the package. Once the press plate (illustrated in FIG. 4) has been lowered, the edge-protection means is retained between the press plate 19 and package 13. When the band is tensioned around the package 13, the edge-protection means is positioned between the strapping band and edge of the package and thus protects the edge of the package.

[0031] In FIGS. 1 to 3, a package 13 is located on a packaging table 16, which is provided with rollers, but is not illustrated specifically in the drawings, and moves in the entry direction E the apparatus 10. In the illustrations of FIGS. 1 to 3, the arrangement device 12 is provided with an edge-protection means 14 which is to be applied to the package edge K directed toward the arrangement device 12. A position-detection means 15 is arranged on the component 11, in an entry region of the apparatus 10, and senses the distance of the package 13, said distance being represented in the figures by the reference sign X. The position-detection means 15 serves to sense the distance between the package 13 and the component 11, or itself, while the package is entering. It is, indeed, advantageous if the means 15 is arranged as closely as possible to the front boundary of the packaging table, as seen in the entry direction E.

[0032] However, this specific position is not absolutely necessary for the invention. However, it is necessary for the position-detection means 15 always to be arranged such that it can sense the distance X from the package 13 while the latter is entering. Any position in which it is possible to sense an entering package 13 is therefore conceivable. It is thus also possible for the position-detection means 15 to be arranged in the region of the vertical supports 18 (not illustrated here), or on the vertical supports (not illustrated here), since entry movement of the package 13 also takes place in this region.

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates that the package 13 has advanced forward in the entry direction E in relation to FIG. 1. At the same time, the arrangement device 12 with the edge-protection means 14 has been moved by a distance Y in the direction of the expected strapping position of the package 13. The arrangement device 12 here moves from an actual position or starting position, in the direction of the expected strapping position of the package 13 by way of an arrangement movement A. In the present example, the arrangement movement A is directed orthogonally to the entry direction E.

[0034] FIG. 3, then, shows the situation in which the package 13 is located in its strapping position and the entry movement has come to an end. The arrangement device 12 has not advanced in relation to FIG. 2. It has maintained its arrangement position in relation to FIG. 2. In the strapping position, the package 13 is located beneath the edge-protection means 14, or the arrangement position of the arrangement device 12 is that in which the edge-protection means 14 is located above the edge K of the package 13. In this position, the actual strapping operation can then begin.

[0035] The method according to the invention provides for the position-detection means 15 to sense the position of the package 13 relative to a reference point, in this case relative to the lateral-boundary component 11. Sensing takes place here while the package 13 is entering into the apparatus in the entry direction E. Since it is also the case that the distance of the position-detection means 15 from a band channel (not illustrated) is known, a controller (not illustrated specifically) can then calculate the expected strapping position of the package 13.

[0036] Once the expected strapping position of the package 13 has been calculated, the arrangement position of the arrangement device 12 which is relevant to the package 13 is calculated. Account should be taken here of the way in which the edge-protection means 14 is to be oriented in relation to the edge K of the package. This gives a displacement distance Y which has to be covered by the arrangement device 12 in the form of an arrangement movement in direction A.

[0037] The arrangement movement A is then induced by the controller, a distance-counting unit (not illustrated) sensing the displacement distance to the arrangement position, and this ensures precise determination of the distance Y which is to be covered.

[0038] Movement into the arrangement position takes place while the package 13 is still entering into the strapping position, and therefore the arrangement device 12 has already reached the arrangement position before the strapping position is reached (see FIG. 2). The method according to the invention therefore makes it possible for the time which the package 13 requires in order to enter into the strapping position also to be utilized in order to execute the arrangement movement A. With corresponding positioning of the position-detection means 15, it is even conceivable for the arrangement device 12 to reach the arrangement position before the package 13 has reached the strapping position.

[0039] The passage of the package 13 through the apparatus 10 is therefore accelerated to a considerable extent in relation to the prior art, since the amount of time taken for positioning the arrangement device 12 once the package 13 has reached the strapping position is done away with.

[0040] It is quite conceivable for the prior-art sensor for sensing the edge K of the package also to be utilized in combination with the method according to the invention. In this case, however, rather than being used for primary control of the arrangement device 12, the sensor serves merely to provide a plausibility check. The plausibility check can be used to check whether the arrangement position has been reached correctly or whether, where the package 13 is entering, a problem has resulted in an actual strapping position which deviates from the position calculated. In this case, it would then be possible to correct the position of the arrangement device 12 with the aid of the sensor on the arrangement device 12.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0041] Strapping apparatus

[0042] Lateral-boundary component

[0043] Arrangement device

[0044] Package

[0045] Edge-protection means

[0046] Position-detection means

[0047] Packaging table

[0048] Rollers

[0049] Vertical supports

[0050] Press plate

[0051] Pallet

[0052] Band store

[0053] A Arrangement movement

[0054] E Entry direction

[0055] K Edge of packaging table

[0056] X Distance between 11 and 13

[0057] Y Distance